Three COVID-19 vaccines have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the upcoming 2025-2026 respiratory season. Below, we share information about each, and how they can help you and your family stay healthy.
Who can get a 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine?
Everyone 6 months old and older is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine this year. You can choose to receive a vaccine based on your personal preferences and values. You shouldn’t get a COVID-19 vaccine if you have certain medical contraindications, such as an allergy to one or more of the vaccine ingredients.
Which vaccines are available?
Updated COVID-19 vaccines are available from Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax. All the vaccines are formulated to target the JN.1 Omicron subvariant, specifically the LP.8.1 lineage, which is currently the most common strain circulating in our communities.
The Moderna vaccine is available for people 6 months of age and older, the Pfizer vaccine is available for people ages 5 and older, and the Novavax vaccine is available for people ages 12 and older.
How many vaccine doses do you need?
Most people will only need one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine this respiratory season, usually given at least eight weeks after their previous vaccine. The following are people who may need more than one dose.
- Children between 6 months and 2 years old will need two doses if they’ve never received a COVID-19 vaccine before.
- Children between 6 months and 2 years old who only received one dose of the Pfizer vaccine may need two doses of the Moderna vaccine, and the first can be 4-8 weeks after their Pfizer vaccine.
- People 65 years old and older are eligible for two doses, ideally given 6 months apart.
- People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised who have never been vaccinated against COVID-19 should complete an initial three-dose series and then receive one extra dose 6 months later. For those who have started but not finished an initial series, the number of additional doses to complete the series will vary by how many doses they’ve received, their age and the type of vaccine they already received. Additional doses may also be approved by a doctor.
When can I get a 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine?
If you choose to get vaccinated, it’s a good idea to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can for the best protection. You can get the vaccine at a local pharmacy or clinic, though availability may vary. Please note, however, that pharmacies in Minnesota can’t vaccinate children under 3 years old.
Do you need to talk to a doctor before you get the vaccine?
No, it’s not required to talk with a doctor or clinician. But talking with doctor or clinician about getting the vaccine can help you make your decision. This conversation can be with anyone who administers vaccines (including doctors, nurses and pharmacists) and can usually happen right before you get your shot.
If you prefer, you can also schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor to discuss whether the COVID-19 vaccine makes sense for you. If you decide to get the vaccine, you may be able to receive it at the same appointment or schedule one for later.
Do you need a prescription to get a COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy
No, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine without a prescription at a pharmacy or clinic location.
Does the need for a new COVID-19 vaccine mean that previous COVID-19 vaccines weren’t safe and effective?
Absolutely not. The need for updated vaccines is not a reflection of the safety and efficacy of the previous COVID-19 vaccines. It’s just that COVID-19 continues to change – and we’ll get the best protection from vaccines that are updated to protect against the strains of the coronavirus that are currently most common.
There’s no denying that previous COVID-19 vaccines saved countless lives during the pandemic and continue to reduce the chance of severe illness. But it’s also true that current strains of the coronavirus are different than the strains that earlier vaccines were based on.
Since the new COVID-19 vaccine includes components based on the JN.1 Omicron subvariant, it should offer even better protection against COVID-19 in your community.
Is the new COVID-19 vaccine considered a booster?
No. The 2025-2026 vaccines are newly formulated to reduce the chance of getting COVID-19 during the upcoming respiratory season, which includes the fall and winter months that have higher rates of COVID-19, the common cold, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
A booster is an additional dose of vaccine that you get when the protection of the original vaccine starts to decrease. During the pandemic, the CDC recommended booster shots of the original vaccine because there were an increasing number of COVID-19 infections and cases of breakthrough COVID-19.
How yearly COVID-19 vaccines help keep you and our community healthy
COVID-19 looks a lot different than it did a few years ago. Symptoms of the current subvariants are usually less severe. In fact, it can be hard to tell the difference between the flu and COVID-19. Still, there are good reasons to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Boost your waning immunity
You probably don’t have the protection against COVID-19 that you once did. You can build up immunity to a virus in one of two ways: getting a vaccination or getting sick with the virus. You likely developed immunity to COVID-19 in one (or both) of these ways. But immunity wanes over time, and for most people, it’s been a while since they got sick or vaccinated.
Protect against long COVID
For some people, the lingering long haul COVID-19 symptoms are worse than being sick with the coronavirus. There are over 200 possible symptoms of long COVID that can affect your entire body, including your lungs, brain and heart – and these symptoms can last for weeks, months or even years. Getting the new vaccine can reduce your chance of long-haul symptoms, even if you get sick. Studies show that, in adults, the chance of getting long COVID is 50% lower if you’re vaccinated.
Prepare for what’s next
COVID-19 continues to change. While it’s unlikely that there will be a new variant that has the serious symptoms of Delta and earlier variants, we don’t know for sure. We also don’t know if new variants will be more likely to cause lingering symptoms like chronic fatigue after COVID-19.
Protect yourself and others this respiratory season
Choosing to get a COVID-19 vaccine is still one of the best ways to protect yourself and others this respiratory season. Other things you can do to stay healthy as we head into the colder months include washing your hands frequently, eating a balanced diet and getting your flu shot (and RSV vaccine if you’re eligible).
If you’re not sure about whether you should get a COVID-19 vaccine, make an appointment with your primary care doctor. They can answer your questions about vaccines and recommend other ways to stay healthy.